Teenage mentor, actor and pageant winner brings Annie, Jr. to Mainstage – one day only

Just like little orphan Annie, 17-year-old director Krystle Tomlinson of Scotch Plains, NJ, possesses spunk and takes matters into her own hands. How else would a high school student take the initiative to hold auditions, cast a production of Annie Jr., direct a group of young children and venture out on the road with her show? For Tomlinson, it’s a natural progression that began nine years ago when she first participated in musical theater. She’s pleased that Mainstage Center for the Arts will host the production on Saturday, October 12th in Camden County College’s Dennis Flyer Theatre, Blackwood.

            “We’re looking forward to putting smiles on the faces of the audience, having fun and inspiring other kids to be part of theater themselves,” said Tomlinson.

            Tomlinson, an active pageant participant (Miss Avalon 2013, Miss Heartland 2011, Miss Seashore Line 2009 and many other titles), whose platform is Positive Peer Leadership - Lead by Example, says, “Being a positive role model and peer leader is very important to me. This show fits my platform because I inspire and empower children to strive for success in the performing arts. My goal is to create positive change in the lives of these kids, to be a role model and to get them more involved in theater,” said Tomlinson.

            Though she’s younger than most directors, Tomlinson has a good deal of acting and theater experience including a role in the American Girl Play, Circle of Friends, at American Girl Theater, NYC, playing Little Inez in her high school production of Hairspray, and portraying Keesha in a television pilot, Crickett and the Little Girl Power. She serves as Junior Company assistant director for the STARS Theatre, sponsored by the Township of Scotch Plains’ Recreation Department.

            “Being on Broadway has always been my dream and I love performing. I want to help other kids of today’s youth find out if musical theater is something they would like to do in life. When I was first involved in a musical theater production, I was so glad someone encouraged me to get involved,” said Tomlinson.

            What better show to undertake as an inspiration to others than Annie, the world’s best-loved musical? In this uplifting story, Annie takes advantage of the opportunity to leave the depressing orphanage, run by evil Miss Hannigan, to visit to billionaire Oliver Warbucks. She charms his staff, enlists Warbucks' help in the search for her long-lost parents, foils Miss Hannigan's sinister plans, and finds a permanent home. Annie, Jr. features delightful songs from the Broadway musical including “Tomorrow,” “Hardknock Life,” and “Never Fully Dressed.”

            Tickets to this special, one-day performance are just $5. Performances are at 10:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Saturday, October 12, in the newly-renovated, fully-accessible Dennis Flyer Theatre Lincoln Hall, Camden County College. To purchase, please call (855) 93-MAINSTAGE, (855-936-2467) or visit www.mainstage.org. This performance, as well as Mainstage Center for the Arts 2013-14 season, is sponsored by Comegno Law Group, P.C.

Mainstage Center for the Arts, celebrating its 25th anniversary year, is located in Blackwood, NJ. It is committed to making the arts experience enjoyable for all its patrons. In an effort to make the shows, concerts, events, workshops, classes, and offices accessible to as many as possible, Mainstage offers many services for patrons requiring assistance. For anyone in need of assistance, please notify the office at (855) 93-MAINSTAGE, (855-936-2467) at the time of purchasing tickets, or at least five days prior to the event you are attending.

            Mainstage Center for the Arts, the parent program for Summer Stage, is a 501 © (3) non-profit organization committed to providing a creative, vibrant, and nurturing environment for youth and adults.  This program is made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts and by funds from the National Endowment for the Arts. This program is also made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey Cultural Trust.